The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-20
THREE OHIO MEN.
Chief-Justice Waite, Commissioners Edger-
ton, and Judge Latty.

Chief-Justice Waite, Commissioner Edger-
ton, and Judge Latty.
Toledo Letter in Cleveland Leader.
Representative Hill has known Chief-justice
Waite for twenty-five years, and he says that
Waite is one of the trio of old men from north
western Ohio who are possessed or most re-
markable intellectual and physical vitality.
They are all in the full possession of their every
faculty. And it is strange coincidence that
they started their lives as friends. and that now
in their old age they keep up the closest OF So
cial relations. These three men are Chief -justice
Waite, Civil-service Commissioner Edgerton,
and Judge Alexander S. Latty, of Defiance.
Latty and Edeerton are a couple of years older
than w ate, but Edeerton, with his gray hair,
has frame of iron, and he tells me that he has
few days of sickness. and that he can be upon his
feet all day long without tlrlng Inese
was little more than wilderness. Waite was a
son of tho Chief-justice of Connecticut he had
been born at LYME educated at Yale in the
same class with William NJ Evarts studied law
with his father, and during the term of Martin
Van Buren, had como west to Ohio to practice.
Waite's first case in Defiance county was tried
shortly after his admission TO the bar The
court was held in the second story or building
in Defiance, which still stands. and Waite
terribly worsted by young man who had more
voice than brains, and who now lives at De-
fance, an unknown and not very prosperous old
man. Waite was once member of the Ohio
State Legislature He once declined position
on the Ohio Supreme Bench, and Grant sent
him. in connection with his old classmate.
William NJ. Eyarts, as one of the counsel of the
Geneva arbitration. He was given the appoint
ment of Chief-justice of the Supreme Court
without having asked for it. and having no idea
that it would be sendered him. Representa-
tive Hill tells how the matter
first called to Grants attention, and of
little meeting at Toledo which secured Waite
the appointment Grant was travelling
the United States and when he came TO Toledo
q reception was prepared for him. The COM
mittee on arrangements composed of Waites
friends, and they anxious that Grant
should appoint Waite TO his present position
They said nothing. however, and had Waite
make the address of the occasion. He did this
in a mastery manner, talking to Grant as be-
came his Office but overlooking with the
nauseous adulation which was common TO
Grants receptions at that time. Grant was de-
lighted with the effort. he had known OF
Waite somewhat in connection with Evarts- He
knew him to be a man of the utmost probity,
and of no political aspirations He made in
quiries about him, and concluded that he Was
the proper man to take the place left vacant by
Chief Justice Chase He appointed Waite. and no
better choice ever made for such position.
Waite accepted the position, and l understand
that he shows no indications of intending to re-
tire from it
speaking of Waite, Edgerton, and Latty."
continued Representative Hill, they all men
of extraordinary ability, and Latty is fully the
equal of Waite in legal learning He is an Irish
man by birth, who first settled in Canada but
was driven thence on account of the Mackenzie
rebellion, in which he mixed up. He came
to Ohio and practced law, made judge and
full knowledge of the law reports. There was
not a case that had been tried, it seemed to me.
which he could not refer to in the reports of the
various State and United States courts, giving
the volume and page which the could bs
found. the names of the plaintiffs and the de-
PENDANTS, and even the syllabus. He is now liv-
ing in retirement and is worth about $160, 600.
He and Waite correspond regularly, and at
tended a dinner not long ago at which Waite,
Edgerton, and Latty were present
'These three men are the most honest trio l
know" Mr. Hill continued. "Edgerton. Waite. :
and Latty honest that they might be
trusted with the wealth of all Wall street of
New York and Threadneedle and Lomba
streets of London and they would render the &C
count even TO the cent. During Latty's early
life in Ohio he had made good deal of money
in land speculation. when he became interested
in the Miami and Erie canal This failed. and
he found himself with a lot of creditors his
hands and nothing to pay them. He took the
benefit of the bankrupt law and started. anew.
Ten years later he had made another fortune
He then brought forth his note books contain
ing an alphabetical list of all his creditors He
calculated their accounts with interest for ten
years, sought them out, and paid up every cent.
He would not allow a creditor TO receive only
the principal. but made him take the interest as
well
1T is a good deal the with Edgerton.
Edgerton's father was a prominent New Yorker,
and Edgerton came to Ohio as the agent of a
land company which owned large part of
northwestern Ohio. This company was after
ward known the Hicks Land Company. and
Edgerton founded the town of Hicksvile and
from this company and commission sales.
He made money very fast, and upon closing ND
the affairs of the company he bought large
amount of land of them at a.merely nominal
price. Along early in the seventies ne
worth between $500 600 and ST. ZOO, 600, and he
was helping his brother. Lycurgus Edgerton,
who was doing business in New York. His
brother had only his verbal promise for surety.
ahd when the panic of 1873 came around and
caused him fail to the extent of $3.50. 900. Ed
gerton was not legally responsible for his debts.
Nava hal ha id doll nf
though in doing it cost him the larger part
of his fortune. In order to get the ready
money he had to sell valuable stock, such as
the Pittsburg. Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad
stock, and others which away above
par, but which went then at sacrifice. Upon
Edaerton's friends urging him not to pay these
debts of his brother. stating that he could not
be held for them. he replied that the legal obi
gatlon made difference to him. He had
promised his brother that he wonld be his
ty, and bad he made no such promise he would
have paid his brothers debts rather than see his
notes dishonored. Edgerton still about
3, 900 acres of land in northwestern Ohio, and
these have been greatly increased in value by
the oil discovery. There is town here named
after him. He is worth. l suppose. several hun
ared thousand dollars. but had it not been for his
brother he would have been ten times as wealthy.
He wac in Congress when Franklin Pierce was
President, and has had number of honors |
thrust upon him by Indiana"
when did you first meet Judge Waite i" |
asked.
1T was when 1 was green lawyer" replied
HILL Il had a case In which Judge Waite, then |
> noted Toledo lawyer was employed by the op- |
oosite side. Waite had already made great |
and [ approached the case with fear |
snd trem bling. We took the testimony together |
in private, and after we had it all before be- |
fore we had submitted to the judge. Mr.. Waite |
asked me 60 and lunch with him. Dur /
ng our lunch he told me that he thought We |
Gould settle that just we'll Judge |
4atty. and asked me if would be willing for him |
20 fix the terms of settlement I replied that |
hat was rather a strange method Of procedure, |
lyxxor -
irst. He then made plain statement of the /
Justice of the case, and proposed settlement in |
with this. His idea as to how the |
ase should be settled was exactly the same as |
nine. and l could not have asked for better |
l don't believe that Waite advo-
ateG the cause OF a dishonest client, and don't |
hink he would have taken which he |
bought contrary TO justice He might have /
made a fortune st the law had he charged the |
rdinary fees for he had very large practice.
lie was not very rich when he was elected Chief |
md ina Eixoh si hat ho